A Christian coalition of clergymen and women announced Thursday that it's time Maryland passed a law recognizing same-sex marriages.

Advertisement

The announcement comes as more powerful forces within those faiths pledge to lobby hard to keep marriage between a man and a woman.

Pressure from religious groups, especially Catholic and black churches, is a big reason the legislature has been slow to embrace same-sex marriages. The coalition of clergy said it hopes to turn that tide.

Watch The 11 News Report

Baptist leaders joined with Catholic leaders in Annapolis on Thursday in support of the bill before the General Assembly that allows same-sex partners to legally marry in Maryland and receive the same rights as heterosexual couples.

"The Christian church's appreciation of the infallibility of religious freedom, its sexual theology and even the meaning of marriage have all changed over time," said Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Maryland representative of the National Coalition of Nuns.

Conservative state Sen. Allan Kittleman's stance on the issue has also changed. The devout Christian from Howard County announced Wednesday that he'll vote in favor of the bill.

"I really believe, as a legislator, I don't vote on the basis of my faith. I have to vote on what I think is right for the citizens of Maryland," he said.

"That's an amazing and courageous step," said Darrell Carrington, of the group Equity Maryland, regarding Kittleman's decision. "We want our legislators to stand up and be leaders."

But the other side of the pew remains strong in its opposition. The Maryland Catholic Conference and the Baptist Ministers Conference of Baltimore promise to keep the pressure on to keep the status quo.

"It is simply not natural for a man or woman of the same sex to cohabitate with one another," said the Rev. John Lunn of the BMCB.

The Baptist opposition said it also takes issue with some supporters calling the same-sex marriage movement the major civil rights legislation of the 21st century.

"The civil rights movement had nothing to do with same-sex marriage, only racial equality," Lunn said.

It appears the number of votes in favor of the bill is growing in the Senate, where similar bills have often died in the past.

The governor said he'd sign the legislation, but in Maryland, the opposition can put the law on hold if it gets enough signatures to force a statewide referendum.